Schools of Western Epistemology and Their Analysis from the Perspective of “Islamic Epistemology”

Abstract

This study aims to analyze various schools of Western epistemology, namely positivism, postpositivism, constructivism, and critical theory, and evaluate them from the perspective of Islamic epistemology. Each school offers a different approach to understanding knowledge and truth, with its own characteristics and limitations. Positivism and postpositivism emphasize a scientific approach based on rationality and empiricism, while constructivism and critical theory prioritize subjective and critical perspectives in understanding the social role and influence of power in the formation of knowledge. Islamic epistemology, on the other hand, offers a holistic approach that integrates reason, experience, and revelation as the main sources of knowledge. By including revelation as the highest source of truth, Islamic epistemology provides a more comprehensive view, combining material and spiritual aspects in the process of seeking knowledge. The results of this analysis indicate that the Islamic epistemological approach can complement the Western paradigm, offer a stronger ethical and spiritual foundation, and be able to answer epistemological challenges in the context of modern science.